Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Jean Greaves breaks down the fascinating subject of emotional intelligence (EI) from the team perspective. I’ve read a number of books about EI over the years, but never one that was focused entirely on teams. Greaves in this book shows how a team’s emotions can be the difference between a successful team and one that fails. The outcome depends on whether emotions are ignored or properly understood. She breaks down four essential skills that focus on how we feel and how we connect.

What I Liked About Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0

It’s been a long time since I’ve read anything about the subject of EI, so it was interesting to re-visit the subject from the team perspective. Each essential skill had its own chapter, so Greaves did a thorough job of explaining these skills. The skills are Emotion Awareness, Emotional Management, Internal Relationships, and External Relationships. The emotions aspects help groups navigate emotional rhythms and to recognize their impact and how to respond when feelings surface. The relationship side looks at the quality of the team’s relationships and how to build and foster positive work relationships.

There were many lists within the book, which made it easier to focus on the subject and provided what seemed like just the right amount of information. I enjoyed the examples Greaves used, but wished there had been a few more in depth examples to highlight the main points.

One thing I particularly liked is her emphasis on facing problems. One point Greaves made in Chapter Six was the need to “strive to make the most of a bad situation.” She says teams shouldn’t pretend a problem doesn’t exist. Teams must be realistic and positive but they should also be grateful they are in it together.

I also liked the chapter on external relationship strategies. I think this is one of the things teams fail at more often than not. They build their silos and don’t look at how their work might affect other teams within an organization. It’s easy to ignore that other teams can help you develop a bigger picture of the organization. If teams work together they can have a bigger strategic impact.

What You’ll Like About Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0

If you are interested in emotional intelligence, you’ll like this book. It’s a fascinating subject that has real impact for organizations, but is often ignored because leaders think it’s too touchy-feely.

As a leader, you want your team to succeed and to have a positive impact on the organization, and this book will give you plenty of ideas on how to increase your team’s EI.

Final Thoughts

Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is well-written, easy to understand, and has some very good examples you can follow. The Epilogue looks at the impact virtual work has had on team interactions. While there are many advantages to working virtually, it is clear virtual work does affect team interactions.

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